CVE-2019-9369 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth, there is a use of uninitialized variable. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-79995407
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9369 represents a critical security flaw within the Bluetooth implementation of Android 10 systems, specifically manifesting as the use of uninitialized variables within the Bluetooth stack. This issue resides in the core Bluetooth subsystem that handles wireless communication protocols and device pairing mechanisms, making it a fundamental component of the operating system's security architecture. The vulnerability stems from improper initialization of memory variables during Bluetooth protocol handling processes, creating potential pathways for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within CWE-457, which categorizes uninitialized variables as a significant security weakness that can lead to unpredictable behavior and information leakage. When Bluetooth services attempt to process incoming connections or handle existing pairings, the uninitialized variables may contain residual data from previous operations or memory allocations, potentially exposing sensitive information about the device or its communication state. This uninitialized memory access occurs during routine Bluetooth operations without requiring any special privileges or user interaction, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically by malicious actors.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9369 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of Android's Bluetooth implementation. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data such as device identifiers, connection states, or other internal Bluetooth stack information simply by maintaining proximity to the target device. This vulnerability affects all Android 10 devices and can be exploited locally without requiring additional execution privileges, meaning that even devices with standard security configurations remain at risk. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this particularly concerning for mobile environments where devices are constantly communicating with various Bluetooth-enabled peripherals and networks.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving information gathering and credential access, specifically mapping to T1082 for system information discovery and T1003 for credential dumping. The vulnerability enables adversaries to gather intelligence about Bluetooth device configurations and potentially use this information to plan more sophisticated attacks against the device or its connected networks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Google, disabling unnecessary Bluetooth functionality when not in use, and monitoring for anomalous Bluetooth connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing Bluetooth access controls and regularly auditing Bluetooth device pairing histories to detect potential unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory initialization practices in security-critical systems and underscores the necessity of comprehensive code review processes for core operating system components.